Roof stack



March 8, 1955 w, J woo s 2,703,520

ROOF STACK Filed March 12, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Walt erJ.Woodhams T RNEY March 8, 1955 w. J. WOODHAMS ,7

ROOF smcx Filed March 12, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I iwmeewwo fiims OY QOMRNEY United States Patent C ROOF STACK Walter J. Woodhams, Marshall,Micln, assignor to Woodlin Metal Products Company, Marshall, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application March 12, 1951, Serial No. 215,050

6 Claims. (Cl. 98 -46) Thepresent invention relates broadly to gaseousfluid discharge apparatus, and in its specific phases to a verticallymountable roof stack in the form of a combined ventilator and chimney.

While hooded roof stacks have been made in many forms, there have beenmany common defects in them. For instance if the hood is placed close tothe end of a plain roof stack, there is a choking action, and if it isplaced high above the end of the roof stack on which it is mounted, soas to avoid this choking action, rain can blow under it and pass downthe chimney. These types of construction are also inherently subject todowndrafts which not only interfere with the burning of the fire in aheater connected to same but many times causes a smoking condition atthe heater. Moreover some of these devices are only suitable forventilating an attic or like space, or only as a chimney hood, and notto efficiently meet both problems with increased safety by means of asingle piece of apparatus. The need of something to safely andefficiently meet these two problems is especially prominent in housetrailers. There the chimney is relatively short, and additionally somemeans of ventilation ofthe house trailer interior as well as protectionof the roof from fire hazard is essential under both standing and towingconditions. It was a recognition of the shortcomings and limitations ofsuch prior art which led to the conception and development of thepresent invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provisionof a new type of ventilator and roof stack which not only givesdecidedly improved performance but has an attractive exterior tiereddesign.

Another object is to provide a chimney extension member or roof stackwhich not only has a wide hood carried by a suitable spider on the upperend of the chimney pipe but also has circular downturned louver memberswhich are closed at their top and open at their bottom and under whichthe chimney pipe is perforated for escape of smoke or the like.

Another object is to provide a chimney extension or' roof stack withhooded upper end mounted on an open spider, and wherein the upperportion of the chimney pipe is perforated so that there is ample outletarea through same and under said hood for free flow of' products ofcombustion out of said chimney rcgardless of Whether there is a strongcross wind or no wind is blowing.

Another object is to provide a chimney construction with louveredbottom-opening, substantially straight sided, members with perforationsunder same so that when there is a cross wind any of that wind whichpasses through said perforations has to pass under the louvered membersand in a generally upward direction through the perforations on thewindward side of the chimney which thus makes the general flow directionupward in the chimney which in turn eliminates downdrafts.

A further object is to provide a chimney construction wherein the upperend of same is provided with a spider mounted hood which opens downwardoutside of and substantially at the top of the chimney and wherein thereare side openings into that chimney pipe which are covered by downwardlyopening substantially vertical sided louver members so that there is nodirect access of rain into the chimney.

A further object is to provide achimney member ice which has the addedcapability of ventilating: a space adjacent the outer surface of thatchimney where it passes through a panel, such-as a roof panel;

A further'object is to provide a combined ventilator and chimney adaptedto pass through a roof panel or the' like, and; wherein same is oftelescoping construe:- tion to. meet the requirements of varyingthickness roof panels.

A further object is to provide an annular air space around the chimneypipe in the area extending through the roof panel sothat hot products ofcombustionspassing up thechimney will induce, through radiated heat, aventilating flow of air through this annular-passageway into a shelteredand vented outlet above the roof line.

A still further object isto provide aconstruction wherein there are twoair spaces through-the-roof panel with the inner one adjacent thechimney being annular and acting to conduct heat radiated fromthechimney by way of air flow so that the outer surface of this annular airspace is maintained relatively cool, and with heat radiated from theouter surface of. said space passing into a second air chamber withdrastically minimized danger of overheating the roof panel.-

A further object is to not only provide a telescoping annular top andbottom open-ended ventilation passageway around the chimney of a roofstack but also to provide that roof stack with a roof flange and asheltering louver of circular construction open at its bottom andwherein that roof flange has drainage areas so that under rainy weatherconditions such rain will not pass into the upperv end of the annularventilating passageway, but rather will be drained onto the top ofthefroof flange from whence it will' how out onto the roo A furtherobject is to provide a combined ventilator and chimney stack in the formof a roof stack which is not only safer, but more efficient than roofvstacks of the ordinary construction.

Still further objects and advantages of" the invention will appearas'the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, consists of the gaseous fluid dicharge apparatus hereinafter fullydescribed and particularly pointed 'out in the claims, the annexeddrawings, and the following description setting forth in detail certainmeans for carrying out the invention; such disclosed means illustrating,however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the inventionmay be used.

In the annexed drawings:

Figurev 1 shows a side view of a. preferred form of the roof stack ofthe present invention mounted on a hollow roof panel which is shown insection,

Figure 2 shows a vertical center-sectional view of the apparatus asviewed along line 2-2 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of thearrows.

Figure 3 shows a top View of the assembly shown in Figure 1, but with aportion of the hood. member broken away to show details of the spidermounted in place on the upper end of thechimney pipe;

Figure 4 shows a bottom. view of the assembly shown in Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1. and 2 of the drawing it willbe noted that the assembly has a chimney pipe 1 with downturned,open-bottom, substantially vertical sided louver: members 2.The-downturned side portion of said louver members acts as a baiiie fora portion of any cross wind present, which may be natural or evencreated by towing a vehicle on which the assembly is mounted. Thatbaffling helps to retard air pressure which might create downdrafts. Thelouver members are mounted on the upper portion of the chimney withperforations 3. in said chimney being sheltered by said louver membersand preferably wholly above the lower edge of. same. These perforationsare preferably ofa total area less than half of the area of the chimneypipe covered by the louver in order to reduce choking effect understrong cross winds. Mounted on the upper endof chimneypipe' 1- is aspider 4, the'lower portionof WhiClTiS in the forin o'fa sleeve 5 whichtightly fits over the upper ney-pipe 1, is adapted to be placed withopen end down on top of spider 4, the outer ends 9 of which arepreferably bent backward over flange 8 to anchor hood 7 thereon. Thisprovides free flow of products of combustion up through chimney-pipe 1and out from in under hood 7 between spokes 10 of spider 4.

Mounted on chimney-pipe 1 above roof panel 11 of the compartment onwhich the assembly is to be mounted, is a special flanged drainagelouver 12. The

upper end of that louver fits'tightly around chimneypipe 1 and tapersdownward and outward therefrom to a series of openings 13 which arespaced apart by spider-like members 14, Figure 3, which connect thedownwardly and outwardly tapering portion of the drainage louver to avertical flange portion 15, Figure 2, terminating in a horizontal flangeportion 16. At intervals in said horizontal flange portion 16 there aredepressed portions 17 which hold flange 16 in elevated position whilepermitting screws 18 to be used for anchoring the assembly to the upperface of the roof panel 11.

Roof panel 11 has upper and lower openings 19 and 20 therethrough asshown in Figure 2. Passing through openings 19 and 20 of roof panel 11is a telescoping sleeve assembly 21. This telescoping sleeve assemblyhas an upper sleeve 22 adapted to telescope into lower sleeve 23. Theupper sleeve 22, which is of sufliciently larger diameter thanchimney-pipe 1 to form an annular air space therebetween, is fastened atits upper end to upper roof flange 24 in conventional manner, such as byspot welding. The inner portion 25 of that roof flange is turned upwardto form a continuous shoulder and at the upper edge of that shoulderthis roof flange is turned inward with its innermost edge rounded totightly fit and be slidable on chimney-pipe 1. A series of perforations26 are placed in this inturned flange portion of upper roof flange 24 toprovide free air-flow therethrough from the annular space betweenchimney-pipe 1 and upper sleeve 22. The outer edge of upper roof flange24 is preferably turned downward slightly to provide a better grip onthe roof when same is tightly fastened in place as by means of screws18, and any other like screws which would normally be used the same asis shown in connection with lower roof flange 27 which is substantiallyidentical with upper roof flange 24.

Lower roof flange 27 is fastened to lower sleeve 23, Figure 2, at itsinwardly offset lower edge, in any conventional manner, such as by spotwelding. This lower roof flange 27 is provided with a downturnedshoulder portion 28 which in turn is flanged inward to chimney-pipe 1with the contacting edge rounded for ease of sliding thereon. Thisportion of the lower roof flange is also provided with perforations 29,which are substantially identical with perforations 26 in upper roofflange 24. The telescoping assembly 21 is thus readily adjustable to aconsiderable variation in roof panel thicknesses and such lower panel isalso adapted to be anchored to the roof panel by means of screws 30.

The combined ventilator and chimney assembly, as described, is thusadmirably adapted for connecting to a suitable heating stove or otherdevice (not shown) by means of a stove pipe 31, Figure 1. Thatventilator and chimney assembly is thus obviously easy to manufactureand install. Moreover it involves an entirely new principle of stoveventing equipment which not only prevents downdrafts but has allopenings in the upper portion of same sheltered against direct access byrain while providing not only for venting a stove, or the like, but alsoventilation of the interior of the house trailer, or the like, of whichroof panel 11 forms a portion. Such interior ventilation is facilitatedby the heat carried through chimney 1 by the hot products of combustionfrom the stove. That heat causes an updraft in the annular space betweenchimney 1 and sleeves 22 and 23 of the telescoping assembly, and thosesleeves, in turn, also act as a heat shield to retard flow of heat fromthe hot products of combustion in chimney 1 out into roof panel 11 whichnormally is made of combustible material.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the articleand combinations herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any ofthe following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a roof stack assembly adapted for use in upright position andhaving a chimney pipe, a spider mounted on the upper end of said chimneypipe, said spider having outwardly extending arms, a hood extending overthe upper end of said chimney pipe, said hood being adjacent to andwider than the upper end of said chimney pipe but spaced above same andmounted on the arms of said spider so as to permit free fluid flowthrough said chimney pipe out from in under said hood and between saidspider arms, the combination therewith of at least one outwardlyextending louver on the outside of said chimney pipe, said louver on theoutside of said chimney pipe, said louver passing completely around saidchimney pipe with its lower edge substantially uniformly spaced from thelatter, said louver being below said hood and opening downward, saidchimney pipe having some perforations therethrough opening under saidlouver between the upper and lower edges of same for permitting limitedair flow therethrough under cross wind and that flow passing in anupward direction into said chimney pipe on the windward side to promoteupward fluid flow therethrough, wherein the outermost portion of saidlouver is in the form of a substantially cylindrical downturned flangewhich is substantially parallel to said chimney pipe and forms a bafflewhich reduces the choking eifect of strong cross Winds on draft in thechimney pipe.

2. In a roof stack assembly having a chimney pipe with a hood over theoutlet end of same in position to permit gaseous fluid flow out throughsaid chimney pipe and under said hood, at least one louver on theoutside of said chimney pipe, said louver forming a tight fit at itsinner portion on said chimney pipe and extending outward therefrom to adownturned flange which passes completely around said chimney pipe andsubstantially parallell thereto, and which downturned flange forms abaflle which reduces choking effect of strong cross winds on up draft insaid chimney pipe, said louver being below said hood and openingdownward, said chimney pipe having several perforations therethroughopening into the space under said louver between the upper and loweredges of same and constituting less than half of the uncovered surfacearea of said chimney pipe surface between the planes of the upper andlower edges of said louver to permit limited air flow therethrough undercross wind, and at least a portion of that flow passing in an upwarddirection, into said chimney pipe on the windward side to promote upwardgaseous fluid flow therethrough.

3. In a roof stack assembly adapted for use in upright position andhaving a chimney pipe, a spider mounted on the upper end of said chimneypipe, said spider having outwardly extending arms, a hood extending overthe upper end of said chimney pipe, said hood being adjacent to andwider than the upper end of said chimney pipe but spaced above same andmounted on the arms of said spider so as to permit free fluid flowthrough said chimney pipe out from in under said hood and between saidspider arms, the combination therewith of at least one outwardlyextending louver on the outside of said chimney pipe, said louverpassing completely around said chimney pipe with its lower edgesubstantially uniformly spaced from the latter, said louver being belowsaid hood and opening downward, said chimney pipe having someperforations therethrough opening under said louver between the upperand lower edges of same for permitting limited air flow therethroughunder cross wind and that flow passing in an upward direction into saidchimney pipe on the windward side to promote upward fluid flowtherethrough, wherein the outer portion of said louver is in the form ofa substantially cylindrical downturned flange which is substantiallyparallel to said chimney pipe and forms a baflle which reduces thechoking effect of strong cross winds on draft in the chimney pipe, andwherein said perforations in said chimney pipe, when same is in verticalposition, are above the bottom edge of said louver and constitute lessthan half of the area of said chimney pipe surface under said louver andbetween the planes of its upper and lower edges.

4. In a roof stack assembly adapted for use in upright position andhaving a chimney pipe, a multiple armed spider mounted on the upper endof said chimney pipe with said arms extending sidewise from the upperend of said chimney pipe, an upwardly dished hood member of greaterinside diameter than the upper end of said chimney pipe, said hoodmember having downturned sides with an outturned edge flange at thebottom of same, said outturned flange being engaged and held by theouter portion of the arms of said spider so as to permit free fluid flowthrough said chimney pipe and out from in under said hood between saidspider arms, the combination therewith of multiple louvers on theoutside of said chimney pipe, each of said louvers forming a tight fitat its inner portion on said chimney pipe and extending outwardtherefrom to a downturned flange which passes completely around saidchimney pipe and substantially parallel to said chimney pipe and forms abaflle which reduces the choking effect of strong cross winds on draftin the chimney pipe, said downward opening louvers being below saidhood, said chimney pipe having perforations therethrough under at leastpart of said louvers, said perforations being above the lower edge ofsaid louvers and constituting less than half of the surface area of saidchimney pipe surface under each louver and between the planes of itsupper and lower edges to permit limited air flow therethrough undercross wind and that flow passing in an upward direction into saidchimney pipe to promote upward fluid flow therethrough.

5. In a combined roof ventilator and roof stack adapted for use inupright position and having a chimney pipe, a spider means mounted onthe upper end of said chimney pipe, said spider means having outwardlyextending arms, a hood extending over the top of said chimney pipe, saidhood being adjacent to and wider than the end of chimney pipe but spacedabove same and carried by the arms of said spider so as to permit freefluid flow through said chimney pipe and out from in under said hood andbe tween said spider arms, the combination therewith of at least oneoutwardly extending louver on the outside of said chimney pipe, saidlouver passing completely around said chimney pipe with its upper edgetightly fitting said chimney pipe and its lower edge substantiallyuniformly spaced from the latter, said louver being below said hood andopening downward, said chimney pipe having several perforationstherethrough opening into the space under said louver between the upperand lower edges of same for permitting limited air flow therethroughunder cross wind and that flow passing in an upward direction into saidchimney pipe on the windward side of same to promote upward air flowtherethrough, and a top flanged drainage louver mounted on said chimneypipe below said first named louver and having its upper portion taperingoutward and downward from said top flange to an upright outer supportingedge member, a series of perforations in said tapering portion adjacentsaid outer supporting edge member of said drainage louver, saidsupporting edge member of said drainage louver having an outturnedbottom flange which is depressed at intervals along its bottom toprovide drainage openings under said flange between 7 said depressedportions, and an annular passageway means extending around but spacedoutward from said chnnney pipe, said annular passageway means having aninlet at its bottom and an outlet at its top under said drainage louver,means for substantially preventing flow of any liquid into the upper endof said annular passageway means from said perforations of said drainagelouvers, whereby a gaseous fluid such as air can flow through saidannular passageway and carry away at least a portion of any heatradiated by said chimney pipe into said annular passageway.

6. In a combined roof ventilator and roof stack having a chimney pipe, aspider mounted on the upper end of said chimney pipe, said spider havinga ring portion fitting said chimney pipe, said ring portion havingoutwardly extending arms, a hood extending over the top of said chimneypipe, said hood being adjacent to and wider than the end of said chimneypipe but spaced above same and carried by said spider so as to permitfree fluid flow through said chimney pipe and out from in under saidhood and between said spider arms, the combination therewith of at leastone outwardly extending louver on the outside of said chimney pipe, saidlouver being below said hood and opening downward, said chimney pipehaving several perforations therethrough opening under said louverbetween the upper and lower edges of same for permitting limited airflow therethrough under cross wind and that flow passing in an upwarddirection into said chimney pipe on the windward side of same to promoteupward air flow therethrough, a top flanged drainage louver mounted onsaid chimney pipe below said first named louver and having its upperportion tapering outward and downward from said top flange to an uprightouter supporting edge member, a series of perforations in said taperingportion adjacent said outer supporting edge member of said drainagelouver, said supporting edge member of said drainage louver having anoutturned bottom flange which is depressed at intervals to providedrainage openings under said flange between said depressed portions, anupper roof flange and a lower roof flange fitting said chimney pipe,said upper and lower roof flanges each having an offset portion adjacentsaid chimney pipe, said offset portions being offset away from said roofand being perforated, a tubular sleeve member ex tending down from saidupper roof flange adjacent the outer edge of said offset portion andforming an air space around said chimney pipe, and a tubular sleevemember extending upward from said lower roof flange adjacent the outeredge of said offset portion and forming an air space around said chimneypipe, said upper sleeve member telescoping with said lower sleeve memberto compensate for variations in thickness of a roof on which same can bemounted while providing an air passageway which opens into the spaceabove said upper roof flange and under said flanged drainage louver,means for substantially preventing flow of any liquid into the upper endof said air space around said chimney pipe from said perforations insaid drainage louver, whereby air is withdrawn from the space below saidlower roof flange and used to carry away at least a portion of any heatradiated by said chimney pipe in the area between said upper and lowerroof flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 61,387Beeuwkes Jan. 22, 1867 152,994 Hinekley et al July 14, 1874 291,919Matthews Jan. 15, 1884 1,328,647 Carl Jan. 20, 1920 FOREIGN PATENTS20,078 Great Britain 1908 215,585 Great Britain May 15, 1924 294,364Great Britain July 26, 1928 418,841 France Oct. 11, 1910

